Avoid hysteria, Crean urges

Bridie Smith, Selma Milovanovic and Jonathan Pearlman

ACTING Foreign Minister Simon Crean has urged Indian leaders not to fuel hysteria over the killing of a student in Melbourne, after India's External Affairs Minister called the stabbing a ''heinous crime on humanity''.

Mr Crean said there was no evidence the attack was racially motivated, saying it was one of a spate of stabbings in Melbourne over the Christmas period.

''It so happens that one of the victims is Indian … Melbourne is not the only city in the world where this happens. It also happens in Delhi and in Mumbai,'' Mr Crean said.

''It's an unfortunate fact of life, but so far as the victim is concerned and his parents, our deepest sympathy for them and we're doing everything we can to track down the perpetrators.''

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Asked about comments by his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna - who urged Australia to respond to the ''uncivilised brutal attack on innocent Indians'' - Mr Crean said he hoped ''wiser heads will prevail''.

Nitin Garg, 21, was stabbed on his way to work at a Hungry Jack's restaurant in West Footscray on Saturday night.

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The killing has sparked renewed debate in India about the safety of Australia.

Mr Garg's uncle, Raj Kumar, said the Australian Government had failed to safeguard his nephew. ''Every time we were assured by your ministry . . they were protecting Indians, but they have failed in protecting Indians,'' Mr Kumar said.

Mr Crean conceded there could be economic repercussions from publicity in India over recent attacks, although it was not clear that a fall-off in applications from international students was related.

''We have been through this type of issue before … and from the Prime Minister down we have been talking with our Indian partners and reassuring them that this country doesn't condone nor do we believe that these are racially based attacks.''

Acting Premier Rob Hulls called on the Indian Government to show restraint in its response to the killing. Asked about suggestions India might issue warnings against travel to Australia, and especially Melbourne, Mr Hulls said: ''People should just show some restraint and allow the police to get on with the job of investigating this callous crime.''

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the attacks did not appear to be racist. ''I think it is a human tendency to see sinister aspects of things,'' he said. ''Obviously there's something horrible about any murder but I don't think we should readily conclude just because the victim is of a particular ethnic group that there is that racism unless there is some fairly strong evidence.''

Aman Singh, a family friend who had known the victim for six years, said Mr Garg had just completed his studies at Central Queensland University's Melbourne campus and was looking for a job in accounting when he was killed.

''He came here to get a good education,'' Mr Singh said. ''He would study, stay at home and spend time with his friends. He never did anything suspicious.''

His older brother Hanish had visited him in Melbourne just before Christmas. ''His brother and mother are distressed. His father died last year,'' said Mr Singh, a Melbourne resident who will take Mr Garg's body back to India.

The State Emergency Service yesterday conducted a line search of Cruickshank Park in Kingsville where Mr Garg was killed. This came after about 75 people attended a candlelight vigil at the park on Monday night. The ceremony was organised by the Footscray Church of Christ.